[laxbird]

Well our great season has come to an end. Now we look to 2025.

Rams key free-agents this offseason:
OT Alaric Jackson,
CB Ahkello Witherspoon,
WR Demarcus Robinson,
WR Tutu Atwell,
OT Joseph Noteboom,
LB Christian Rozeboom,
DE Michael Hoecht,
DL Bobby Brown III,
LB Troy Reeder,
WR Tyler Johnson,
TE Hunter Long,
DL Neville Gallimore,
QB Jimmy Garoppolo,
S John Johnson.

The only ones I see of importance are Jackson, Witherspoon, Robinson if we get at a reasonable price, and Brown

[Elvis]

As far as FAs go, none of these are really that important. Yeah we'd like to have some of them back but it's a group of fairly minor players.

Alaric is the exception, starting LT, but it's entirely possible the Rams are thinking of upgrading there...

[ziggy]

Hoecht and Gallimore are young and hungry. I'd like to see them return. All others I see that we can actually upgrade if we look hard enough.

I think Garoppolo is actually the perfect McVay backup. You know what you are getting with him. I don't think McVay likes unpredictability. He's gotta come cheap tho...

[rams74]

I think Garoppolo is actually the perfect McVay backup. You know what you are getting with him. I don't think McVay likes unpredictability. He's gotta come cheap tho...

Nothing happened this year that would make any team think of Garoppolo as anything other than a backup. And not a high-priced one, either.

[Dare]

Rams74
Nothing happened this year that would make any team think of Garoppolo as anything other than a backup. And not a high-priced one, either.

We are talking McVay and how he views Jimmy. It's clear he likes him a lot. He played well in his one game with a bunch of backups.

It depends upon what they decide with Stafford. This season highlighted the issues with Matt and do they want to pay almost $50M for a QB you know will fade as the season wears on and has a lot of limitations?

All the rage in the NFL is to draft a first round QB then start him as a rookie. IMO McVay's offense isn't a plug n play scheme. Reading defenses and going through progressions quickly and correctly is key. He got rid of Goff because he wasn't ready. They didn't draft the last two classes to wait a year probably two.

If they draft a QB which I think is likely, they will need a bridge. Jimmy would give McVay a two year bridge. One year to start and be mentor and another year as a contingency backup if the newbie flops. IMO they aren't going to draft a project. The best QB this year in that category is probably Riley Leonard.

The Rams are in a win now window. They want to be competitive even while they look for a new QB1. Stafford has become a liability because everyone knows he won't run and if he does it won't be far or fast. People on this board and in the media are ignoring Matt's obvious physical issues because they love the guy. I love the guy but I'm looking at this from a business perspective and so will Kroenke. Had Stafford played well and they still lost, then I could see him one more year. But he didn't play well. Go back and look at the fumbled handoff that was on Stafford, he simply didn't get to the exchange point on a play they have done hundreds of time. But this was bad weather and suddenly he's the one who is slow.

So I think the Rams will look for a vet that fits their needs both long term and short term. Don't be surprised if Jimmy is signed to a two year deal. There are damn few veteran QBs who can play this scheme and the few who do are going to be expensive both if traded for or signed.

Hoecht has proved himself as a valuable rotational player. I think they will offer Jackson a middle of the road contract and he will refuse. They can see him as a possible comp pick next year. They carried McDermott all year and I believe it tipped their hand at OT. I think they see him as a two year bridge. RT IMO is also a position with a huge question mark. I think they will take a very long look at Leveston. His film would suggest he has better feet than either Havenstein or McClendon. That said I think he was drafted to develop behind Dotson.

Witherspoon has proved he deserves at least a two year extension and I think they will give it to him. Demarcus Robinson is a question mark. He's proved he can play at a high level. But he's going to want to go where he's at least the #2WR and he won't be in LA. Again I think they will offer him an extension but realistically see him as a comp pick. I'd be surprised if Atwell isn't playing for the Chargers next year. If any of the others return it will probably be those who couldn't get an offer and will be resigned to the PS.

I see them taking 2 OTs one on the second day and the other early on the third day. I think they see Forbes as their first round CB and will be looking at another late the second day or perhaps early the third day.

I see Corum and Schrader as their #1&2 RBs with Williams either being traded or released. I do see a 3rd round DT being taken as a run down middle of the line run stuffer. ILB is a priority as well and probably projects as a day 2 pick.

The bottom line is that I see few of the FAs being retained.

[Elvis]